AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good morning, Hailey. I trust you are well rested from your weekend,” I respond, tongue in cheek.
“As rested as I can be, given my hectic weekend,” she replies with an alluring smile.
My brows rise at her riposte, and I laugh softly. I nod toward one of the chairs in front of my desk, and she settles in. I enjoy a whiff of her peachy scent, which I’m now accustomed to.
She starts talking about the project, and I put up a hand to stop her. She frowns a little, probably wondering what’s going on. We decided to leave our affair out of office work, and we usually delve into the progress made on the election project first thing Monday mornings.
“Before we start, I want to tell you something I should have told you on Friday.”
Her eyes narrow, and I can read the worry in them. I try not to look so serious, but I don’t want her to say no.
“Amber intends to work on a project about coding and cyber security. I’d love for you to help her with it. I hope I’m not overstepping my boundaries as your boss?”
She sucks in a sharp breath, and I feel like an ogre for doing this to her. Maybe I should assign the project to someone else, but Hailey is the best there is in that department right now, and I want the best for my daughter.
“Would that be a problem?” I ask when she doesn’t say anything. “I know it’s an unusual request, given that it’s not part of your job description. I’m asking for a favor. If you feel it would be too much for you because of the project, please let me know.”
With her face flushed, she shakes her head. “Not at all. I would love to work with your daughter on her project, but don’t you think it would be awkward? I mean we…” She drifts to a stop and bites her bottom lip, a trait of hers that I’ve come to discover means she’s either nervous or unsure of something. The action always drives me crazy. I shift my gaze from her face.
“It won’t be if we give her no inclination that we’re… involved. Do you think you can do that?”
She nods and then offers me a dazzling smile. “It would be my pleasure to meet her and discuss her project with her.”
Although I’m a little worried that Amber might sense that something is going on between Hailey and me, I might end up being the one to let the cat out of the bag. A smoldering look in Hailey’s direction might tip Amber off that I have the hots for her. Or am I giving her too much credit? She’s only twelve, but kids sometimes know more than their parents.
With that settled, we delve into the project before others join us. During my lunch break, I call Amber to check up on her, and she tells me her STEAM teacher had approved her project. She doesn’t sound like someone who had been sick over the weekend, but I let it go. I tell her about working with Hailey on the project, hoping she’ll change her mind and we’ll spend some time together. She reluctantly agrees. Joyously, I arrange to pick her up after school the following day. I let Hailey know about tomorrow’s plan, and I can’t tell whether she’s thrilled or terrified. All I can hope for now is that Linda won’t ruin my plan.
The following day, I’m surprised at how edgy I am as I pick up Amber. I want everything to be perfect for my little girl. Well, not so little anymore. Both Linda and I are tall, and Amber towers over most kids her age. She takes after her mother with her blonde hair and pert nose, but she has my eyes, which sometimes stare at me pensively.
“How was school?” I ask. She hasn’t raised her head from her phone since I picked her up. Thankfully, Linda didn’t mess up our father-daughter time. Likely because it’s related to Amber’s grades. Despite our complicated relationship, she makes sure Amber is at the top of her class.
“Cool,” she replies quietly beside me.
“Just cool?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“How are Michelle and Grace?”
She gives me a weird look.
“What?” I question, darting my gaze between her and the road as I navigate through the traffic.
She shrugs. “Nothing. I’m surprised you remember them.”
I chuckle. “I remember everything about you, Pumpkin.”
“You have a funny way of showing it. I half expected you not to come today. Mom already told me to call if you don’t send someone to pick me up. I was stunned to see you came by yourself.”
I grip the steering wheel tightly. I’m to blame for her lack of faith in me.
“All that is in the past now. I promised you I would do better. This is me trying to do better. Do you think you could give me another chance?”
She shrugs and returns her attention to her phone.
I want to press for a definite answer, but I quickly stop myself. Amber isn’t a client or an employee. She’s my twelve-year-old daughter who needs patience and understanding.
When we arrive at the office, my face tightens when I see how easily Amber smiles and relates to Jackie, Susan, and Alex.
